asked the Minister of Education by what authority he fixes quotas of teachers to be employed by local education authorities, since there would not appear to be any legal basis for this action.

Regulation 18 of the Schools Grant Regulations, 1951, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman agree that the quota system is unfair, since it fails to take local circumstances into consideration? For example, in Wigan, my constituency, two-thirds of the schools are denominational, and it is not always easy to transfer teachers from a denominational school to a State school.

That is a broader question than that originally asked, but on the whole authorities have co-operated in this measure, and have recognised the need for it. However, I should be pleased to discuss with the hon. Member any particular difficulties in his constituency.

asked the Minister of Education if he will consider recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine the status of the teaching profession, with terms of reference covering recruitment, training, conditions, salaries and pension rights.

I am advised on these matters by the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers and by the Burnham Committee. I have full confidence in these bodies and therefore see no need for the appointment of a Royal Commission.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the last Royal Commission sat in 1870? Is he further aware that, although the capital programme is extremely good, many parents and professional people are anxious about the future? Would not the findings of a Royal Commission benefit the nation, the profession, and everybody concerned? Will my right hon. Friend consult his Cabinet colleagues again and see if he can obtain agreement to the setting up of such a Royal Commission?

I will send my hon. Friend details of the membership of these two bodies, and particularly the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers. He will see that I have available a very wide selection of eminent educational opinion.

If the right hon. Gentleman has full confidence in the National Advisory Council, will he take its advice about the extent to which training colleges should be expanded?

As the hon. Member knows, I took its advice on the main point, which was the objective to be attained.

asked the Minister of Education when he proposes to revise Circular 97 regarding the duties of school teachers in connection with school meals, in view of the fact that the circular was issued in 1946 and conditions have changed since that date.

I shall issue a new circular shortly.

Will the Minister agree that much valuable teaching time is wasted when teachers have to collect money for school meals and other purposes? Will he consider a more generous unit allowance for school meals, so that local authorities may appoint clerical assistants to do what is essentially a clerical job?

I think that the teachers appreciate that school meals play a part in the general educational process of the schools, but I recognise that during the recent period of heavy pressure it has been difficult for them. We are discussing this matter with the representatives of the authorities and the teachers.

asked the Minister of Education to what extent, in his discussions with local education authorities concerning their school building programmes for the year 1960–61, he will have regard to Treasury limitations on the volume of public capital investment.

As announced in the White Paper, the programme will amount to £55 million.

As many local authorities had to postpone essential school building last year, because of cuts in public investment imposed by the Government, and as the same thing is happening this year as well, what assurance can the Minister give that the not very adequate programme for 1960–61 will not again he axed by the Treasury?

We are in process of fixing the first two years of this five-year period. I have received the proposals and in due course I will announce definite decisions.

asked the Minister of Education, in view of the evidence that local education authorities cannot erect schools within the present limits without considerable sacrifice of educational facilities, particularly in the case of new grammar schools, what are his plans in the near future for raising the existing cost per place for secondary school building.

The evidence I have shows that local education authorities are still able to build schools of good quality within the current limits of cost per place.

Will the Minister agree that the sum of £264 per place is inadequate for the building of a modern grammar school with the need for technical development? Will he be more generous in his allowances in future?

The average costs per place on tender have been falling during the last year, so that the situation has somewhat eased, but, again, I am prepared to discuss a particular difficulty in the hon. Member's constituency.

asked the Minister of Education what percentages of children in the primary and secondary schools, respectively, are being taught in oversized classes at the latest date for which figures are available.

The figures for January, 1958, were 29·7 per cent. for juniors and 62·1 per cent. for seniors.

Do not these figures show that comparatively little progress has been made in reducing the proportion of oversized classes in schools over the last six or seven years? Is not the secondary school figure particularly shocking in that nearly two-thirds of the classes are overcrowded? How does that figure compare with those of the last two or three years?

The figure is improving for juniors, although we should like to see it improve even more. There has not been an actual improvement with seniors during the last year. The figure is just about the same as that of a year ago, but it must be remembered that there are more than 100,000 more children in senior schools, so that we have held the position in a rather difficult period.

asked the Minister of Education whether he will make a statement on his recent official visit to the United States of America.

Yes, Sir. I was greatly impressed by the friendly interest shown by Americans in our educational system: in particular the academic standards of our grammar schools are much admired. But the main purpose of my tour was to see for myself how the Americans have developed their education system to provide the wide measure of educational opportunity which is the most important objective of the Government's White Paper "Secondary Education for All". My main impression was that the American and British education systems are growing closer together: each in our own way, we have both set ourselves the task of combining equal educational opportunity with high academic standards, particularly for specially gifted children.

Is it proposed that there shall be a return visit by an equivalent Minister from America, and that he will see our schools? If so, will he have an opportunity to see our comprehensive schools? Can the Minister say what he will do about this experiment of closed circuit television, of which he made so much on his return?

We have many American visitors. Although there is no exact American equivalent of the British Minister of Education, because America has a federal system, and education is a State subject, we always welcome American visitors, and they would be free to see all our schools, and we should be proud to show them. I propose to discuss the question of closed circuit television with the B.B.C., Associated-Rediffusion and educational experts. Although there is not time to go into the question fully now, I can say that this would be an interesting way of integrating television very closely with the curricula of schools, in a way convenient to the teachers.

asked the Minister of Education what facilities exist in England and Wales generally, and in Middlesex particularly, for the education of partially-deaf children to General Certificate of Education level; how many places are available; and what is the estimated demand for such places.

Partially-deaf children whose handicap is not too severe are best educated in ordinary schools, where they have the same facilities as other children to take G.C.E. courses. Grammar school courses for more severely handicapped children are available at the Mary Hare Grammar School for the Deaf at Newbury.

Does the Minister agree that he has side-stepped my Question? I was obviously talking about the partially-deaf children who are unable to assimilate the education given in ordinary schools. Does he agree that a wholly inadequate number of places is available for these partially-deaf children in the school to which he refers, and will he at least see that facilities are provided at the special schools for children to continue their education beyond the age of 15?

There may be a misunderstanding here. I did not desire to sidestep the question, because this is a very important subject. But partially-deaf children include those who can hear as well as ordinary children so long as they have a hearing aid. I think it will be agreed that those children are probably better in the normal schools. I am considering a proposal to add thirty places to the Mary Hare School, although I have not had evidence that there is a great demand for additional education.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his announcement of an expansion of the Mary Hare School will cause great pleasure to all who know the wonderful work that it does? Can he assure the House that constant vigilance is maintained to see that those partially-deaf children who are not particularly intelligent are not classified as mentally deficient because of their handicap, and are not condemned to bear that stigma, with the loss of the educational facilities available, for the rest of their lives?

I will look into that point.

Before the general raising of the school-leaving age partially-deaf children were trained for a further two years. Since 1945, with the advance of general education, these children have been left behind, and there has been no increase in their school-leaving age.

I will certainly look into that matter, and if the hon. Member would like to discuss it with me I should be glad to see him.

asked the Minister of Education what steps are taken at the special schools for partially-deaf children to ensure that such children leave school trained for useful employment.

The best preparation for useful employment for partially-deaf children is a good general education, which will enable them to take their place in the community on an equal footing with other people.

Does the Minister also agree that some children are unable to take up an ordinary post, such as is open to ordinarily gifted children? Since we spend so much money later on in training disabled people, would not it be a good thing to see if we can fit these handicapped children for a post at school-leaving age?

I am not sure whether the hon. Member knows of the courses that are available for the partially-deaf children after they have left school, which are given at the Vocational Training Department of the Stretford Royal Residential Schools, which does very good work.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement on the proposal made by the Consumer Advisory Council of the British Standards Institution that an independent national body representing every aspect of consumer interest should be established.

I regret that I am not yet ready to make a statement.

I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's courtesy in this matter, but if he is considering the appointment of a committee to look into this suggestion, will he feel able to draw the terms of reference in such a way that consideration can be given to the usefulness of broadcasting any such reports by a consumer body, both on television and sound radio?

That is an interesting idea, which I shall certainly consider.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why a consignment of contract specifications and contract tender documents sent from the United States of America to a prominent firm of British engineers was held at London Airport from 3rd to 14th February until an import licence was obtained;

Import licences are not required. Owing to a misunderstanding the importer on this occasion was advised that he would have to apply for an import licence, and I regret the delay which was caused. I have taken steps to prevent any recurrence.

Can my right hon. Friend assure the House that no import licences are required for this sort of document, if imported from any part of the world?

Yes, I can. Business documents, contract documents, catalogues, lists and so on, do not require import licences.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that retailers of radiogramophones are being offered price reductions by manufacturers on condition that these concessions are not passed on to the customer and are retained to increase the profits; and, as these profit increases range from £4 8s. 8d. to £9 per item, if he will take steps, by the imposition of price control or otherwise, to stop this practice.

No, Sir.

Is the President of the Board of Trade content to allow these manufacturers to pass on profit reductions of £9 with instructions that they must be retained, and that the list prices must not be reduced? Does not he remember the promise about mending the hole in the purse? Would not a reduction of £9 per set go a considerable way towards repairing the hole in the purse?

Neither the Board of Trade nor the Ministry of Supply has any power to control the price of radio-gramophones. As I understand it, this case may be one of resale price maintenance by a single firm, in which event it is not illegal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the proposed amendments to the Food and Drugs Act stipulating net weights on packet foods, vegetables and fruits, which were sent to interested organisations by him 14 months ago.

As I explained in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Test (Mr. J. Howard) on 19th February, my right hon. Friend has arranged for a social survey to ascertain the habits and needs of consumers in this field. In the light of this survey he will decide whether to proceed direct to a Bill covering the whole weights and measures field or to make regulations under the Board's present limited powers.

Is the hon. Member aware that this is the biggest sell-out of women's organisations that the Government have indulged in? It is fourteen months since every women's organisation was promised these new regulations stipulating the net weight on the packet. All those with whom I have been in touch approved of this proposal. Are we now to understand that it is a complete breach of promise?

There has been no complete breach of faith—[HON. MEMBERS: "Breach of promise."]—or breach of promise. The evidence given by consumer organisations to the Hodgson Committee and subsequently to the Board of Trade is valuable, and we are grateful for it. As the hon. Member knows, my right hon. Friend is anxious to bring up to date the law on weights and measures and to ensure adequate consumer protection, but because of the effects on cost it is not in the consumers' interest to have legislation which disregards practical difficulties. I am sure that no housewife would thank the hon. Lady if the result of her intervention were an increase in prices.

On a point of order. Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter at the earliest opportunity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what fresh official credit facilities are to be made available to encourage increased sales of British engineering and other products to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

In recent months Soviet buying organisations have been asking for medium-term credit, instead of their normal 30–45 days terms. The Export Credits Guarantee Department is ready to insure such contracts.

I welcome the Answer of the right hon. Gentleman. Can he go further and say whether he is prepared also to consider longer-term credits which have been asked for in certain cases where considerable orders are in prospect? Does he realise that this is a matter of considerable interest to firms in the North-East and elsewhere, where there is some shortage of orders at present?

This is a difficult question but one which is well worth while investigating. We are trying to obtain more information from the Russians on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider bringing newsreel films within the provisions of the quota and levy system, in view of the danger of a decline in production.

I know of these difficulties. The remedy which is suggested would involve legislation. I am considering this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the forthcoming trade delegation to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

This morning I had a talk with the Soviet Ambassador. It will take us a little time to sort out all the questions involved in preparing for the Mission.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that any forthcoming negotiations on national affairs will not hold up the progress of sending such a delegation to the Soviet Union, particularly as the machine tool industry in this country is suffering greatly at the moment and a delegation of this kind could bring considerable benefit?

It is not for me to give such an assurance, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that I am anxious to see an increase in trade.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately how soon he thinks that this delegation will be able to start?

No, Sir, at present I cannot.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider setting up a Development Corporation in Scotland, similar to the corporation in Northern Ireland, to attract new industry to towns where unemployment persists, and to others that are threatened by the decline or closure of older industries.

The Government consider that adequate machinery already exists for this purpose. The functions of the Northern Ireland Development Council are to a large extent discharged in Scotland by the Scottish Council (Development and Industry).

Is not it a fact that the existing machinery is not doing the job? Does the President of the Board of Trade feel satisfied to continue with an inefficient machine which is handicapped in every way by lack of powers and money?

I do not think that it is the machine which is not doing the job. The difficulty is to find suitable firms to go to the north of Scotland, but we will continue our attempts to find them.

is the President of the Board of Trade inferring that the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) possesses the same powers, finance, and so on as the Northern Ireland Development Council?

No, it does not. But we have always considered the unemployment position in Northern Ireland so chronic as to require continuing special efforts. We are now giving D.A.T.A.C. facilities to Scotland.

Whether or not the machinery is adequate, would the right hon. Gentleman agree that the results to date have certainly been quite inadequate?

I wish that we could do better, but it takes a little time to get firms to avail themselves of these facilities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is still his intention to develop the land at Balmore, Glasgow, as an industrial estate; how long this ground has been in his Department's possession; and from what bodies he has received inquiries about it.

There are no immediate development plans for this site, part of which was acquired in 1952 and the remainder in the following year. Although a number of industrialists have seen the site none so far has considered it acceptable. We have suggested to the Glasgow Corporation that it might acquire the land.

In view of the failure of the Government in past years to provide for such eventualities as the problem of growing unemployment which now confronts Glasgow, will the Government now afford every facility to Glasgow to make use of this site for the decanting of industry in the overspill plan?

We have suggested to the Glasgow Corporation that it should take over this site for the re-location of industry as a result of its planning.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the light of the profits made last year by the British Oxygen Company, he will reconsider the decision not to implement the majority recommendation of the Monopolies Commission that the prices and profits on oxygen and dissolved acetylene should be regulated.

I have no evidence that the company's profit on sales of oxygen and dissolved acetylene has increased materially.

When investigating this industry, did not the Monopolies Commission find that the prices were unreasonable and the profits excessive? As last year the profits of the British Oxygen Company were 23 per cent. up on the previous year, is not it pretty certain that the weakness of the Minister in this matter is allowing the profits of the company to swell at the expense of the country?

I do not think we can draw that conclusion without looking at the turnover of the company and at the whole range of products which it makes.

Is not it a fact that the company concerned is implementing, or has implemented, the recommendations of the Commission and therefore that the regulation of the tonnage of oxygen sold to the steel works may in fact increase the prices of that commodity?

Yes, Sir. The company gave us certain undertakings and I have every reason to think that it is carrying them out.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of suggestions by tea producers that there should be a revival of the international tea agreement; and whether, in accordance with the Report of the Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference, he will arrange for Commonwealth talks on this matter.

Tea producers in certain countries have been considering this suggestion for some time. If we were asked to arrange Commonwealth talks, we should look at this sympathetically.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider taking the initiative himself rather than waiting for the initiative to come from elsewhere? Is not it important that consumer countries as well as producer countries should be represented in any talks, and that, if the producers take the initiative, the agreement which may result may well be on the lines of the previous one of producers only? Is not modern thinking on these matters very much on the lines of having equal representation of consumer and producer countries?

I quite agree with the hon. Gentleman that consumers ought to be represented in such agreements. But, as I understand it, the producers as a whole are not yet agreed on a request for talks and I think that we must wait to see whether they are.

asked the President of the Board of Trade where it is proposed to site the projected advance factory for Wales.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Welsh Affairs and I are considering urgently where to put the factory.

Would the Minister consider building more than one factory? Now that he has accepted the principle of building advance factories, will he consider building them in places where they are needed? Is he aware that, according to the latest figures, the three worst-hit areas in Wales are Anglesey where the unemployment figure is 12·6 per cent., Caernarvon with a figure of 9·4 per cent. and Carmarthen where the figure is 8·1 per cent.? If there is any difficulty in choosing between these three areas, will the right hon. Gentleman build three advance factories?

As the hon. Gentleman will know, factories are being built in Wales, for instance at Swansea. We will take the claims of Anglesey into consideration, but I do not think it would be a sound policy to dot the country with advance factories without knowing whether we shall get tenants for them. This is an experiment in which I am interested, and we shall have to see how it goes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure that the case of the British wool industry has been fully deployed before the appropriate authorities in the United States of America, seeing that the tariff quota at last year's level reduced our exports of wool cloth to the United States market by £4,250,000 compared with 1956.

Her Majesty's Government have made strong and repeated representations over the past two years about the unfair and damaging effects of the tariff quota on our exports. We have consistently urged the United States Government to take action to remedy this grievance.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the British wool industry will be grateful for the strong representations which have been made, and in particular for the speech which he made yesterday to the American Chamber of Commerce? Can he, in addition, assure me that the representations have underlined the fact that the switch of American textile interests from wool to synthetic materials and mixtures thereof has, paradoxically, further reduced the quota for British wool textiles?

I am sorry to say it has, because it has reduced the American domestic production on which the total of the 25 per cent. quota is based.

While I also agree with what the right hon. Gentleman said yesterday, may I ask whether he agrees that it is a pity that, both in the matter of the machine tools last autumn and the payment of legacies made a fortnight ago, the Government have made unilateral concessions to the United States without getting anything in return? Have they not learned hat in this matter, as in others unilateral disarmament does not pay?

It actually did pay, because the machine tools were wanted by British industry to make it more efficient.

Why could not the Government have got something in return for those exports in the way of contracts for the British wool industry?

That would not have been a possible negotiation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people, men and women, respectively, were employed in the factories administered by the North-Eastern Trading Estates Limited, on the latest available date.

At November, 1958, 21,728 men and boys and 28,725 women and girls, in total 50,453, were employed in these factories.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that these figures are far from satisfactory. We are disturbed that there has been a fall in employment, although slight, since the last figures were announced. Does he realise that we are facing particular difficulties in the North-East?

I am glad to say that thirty-one extensions of Board of Trade factories have been authorised in the North-East Development Area, and are being constructed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are many empty factories in the North-East, including one at Jarrow, and that we are considerably perturbed about the fall in employment in those areas? Cannot he do something to get industry back there again?

We are doing our best. That is one of the reasons why it is not wise to build an unlimited number of advance factories.

Does not the President of the Board of Trade agree that, in view of the fact that we have to sell abroad 30 per cent. of what we make and that nobody can make the foreigner buy British, it is stupid to keep on saying "Build new factories" if we cannot sell what the factories produce?

My hon. Friend is quite right about the importance of exports.

Would the right hon. Gentleman not adopt such a pessimistic point of view and realise that the alternative is to have an expansionist policy?

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people, men and women, respectively, were employed in the factories in Sunderland administered by the North-Eastern Trading Estates Limited on the latest available date.

At November, 1958, 2,254 men and boys and 2,773 women and girls, in total 5,027, were employed in these factories.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we very much appreciate that we have now been designated as a D.A.T.A.C. area? Can he further assist us in taking some local initiative? Perhaps his regional controller could come to Sunderland and see what assistance we can give ourselves in directing new industry there?

I shall be very glad to arrange for my regional controller to pay a visit to the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in what part of Development Areas the Government are now willing to build Government-financed factories.

Dundee, Greenock, North Lanarkshire, West South Wales, North East Lancashire and Merseyside.

May we take it that in other parts of the Development Areas the Government are not willing to build Government-financed factories?

It depends upon the state of unemployment in those areas. We also have the Development Commission which is building factories in other areas.

May we be clear? The President of the Board of Trade has given a list of parts of Development Areas in which the Government are willing to build Government-financed factories. Does that mean that they are not willing to build factories in other parts of Development Areas?

For the time being we think that these are the most needy places. It is a great mistake to try to spread the butter too thinly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain the consistency of this Answer, and the Answers to two previous Questions, with the announcement two days ago made by the Secretary of State for Scotland that he is giving the Glenrothes Development Corporation permission to build five advance factories in Glenrothes? We are not complaining about that, but is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we are not so parochial as to deny the desirability of building further advance factories in other parts of the country, since the Government have evidently established the principle by granting permission to this development corporation to build five factories in Glenrothes?

It is a different organisation which is building the factories to which the hon. Gentleman refers. The Development Commission also has powers to build factories in North-West Wales, the crofting counties in Scotland, and in Buckie and Peterhead.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the annual amount of allowances made under Schedule A in respect of land tax, drainage and fencing and embankment charges, and repair of sea walls.

The total is of the order of £½ million.

How much of that comes from owner-occupiers? Is that a reduction of the £34 million collected from owner-occupiers in the year?

I could not say without notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the annual amount of the allowances made under Schedule A in respect of tenths and first fruits, duties and fees on presentations, procurations and synodals, repairs of collegiate churches and chapels, chancels, and university colleges and halls.

I regret that no information is available.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that the Treasury is not making a profit out of the ignorance of people that such deductions can be claimed as is the case with the ordinary maintenance claims.

No, Sir. In view of the fact that it has not been considered justifiable to keep statistics of these matters, I can- not be certain of that.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the annual amount of allowances made under Schedule A for the last complete fiscal year in respect of the deductible five-sixths of a tithe annuity or a rent- charge in lieu of tithe and the deductible one-eighth of the assessment on lands, inclusive of farmhouse.

About £2 million and £21 million respectively.

Is not the cost of the administration of these complicated provisions out of all proportion to the amount collected? Is there really any point in bothering about Schedule A tax any further?

I think I have answered that question by my hon. Friend before. There is a very substantial profit to the general taxpayer in the collection of this tax, and costs of administration are by no means disproportionate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the taxation under Schedule A of owners of houses who are occupiers of such houses, whether he will arrange that owners of sporting rights should be similarly taxed when using such rights themselves.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

Will the Minister bear this suggestion in mind, because we think it is reasonable and is based on equity? Will he bear in mind before the Budget that we are now, at public expense, intending to protect and preserve deer forests?

I will certainly convey the hon. Member's suggestion to the attention of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider extending entertainments tax to cover rentals payable in respect of sporting rights.

I am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind, but I will see that any scheme he cares to put forward is considered.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that lucrative incomes are taken by the owners of deer forests in Scotland which bring no economic advantage to the country, since these activities are carried on purely for entertainment purposes? Is he further aware that by seeking this potential income he could devote the proceeds to a very worthy object, such as the complete exemption of musical instruments from Purchase Tax?

Rentals for shooting rights on grouse moors would attract Income Tax. That point should be remembered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what revenue is earned for the National Gallery by granting permission to commercial advertisers to use photographs of paintings which are the property of the nation; and to what extent he proposes to deduct an equivalent sum from the Exchequer grants to the Gallery.

Two hundred and fourteen pounds in 1958 out of total reproduction fees of £1,615. Hitherto receipts from this source have been credited to the publications department of the National Gallery. With effect from 1958–59 I have arranged that they should be credited directly to the Exchequer.

While welcoming any source of revenue to the trustees of the National Gallery, however disreputable, may I ask the hon. Gentleman if he does not think that the advertising which appeared for Messrs. Harvey's sherry in which a very famous picture of Goya was used as part of a rather vulgar advertisement—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—is undignified and undesirable? Will he ask the Trustees to look at this question again.

These are, of course, matters of opinion. The trustees are an exceptionally able, cultivated and dedicated body of men and they are well capable of judging what is in the best interests of art in general, of the National Gallery in particular, and of its pictures, with their judgment not clouded by obsessive rancour against advertising.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when granting concessions of Purchase Tax, he will seek assurances that these concessions are passed on to the consumer.

No, Sir. The hon. Lady is, I think, aware of my right hon. Lady is, I think aware of my right hon. Friend's view that this is a matter which must be left to the free play of competition.

Is the Minister aware that his free play of competition has been going on since 1951 and with it an increase in the cost of living all the time? Is he aware that he will be appealed to on behalf of retailers to reduce Purchase Tax while at the same time they are circulating a memorandum, a copy of which I have here, giving a £9 reduction to retailers on condition that the reduction is not passed on to the consumers? Is not it imperative in the circumstances that we should speed up any concessions in Purchase Tax and see that they are passed on to the consumers?

I shall be grateful if the hon. Lady will let me see the paper to which she has referred. I can only say that the free play of competition worked very well last year.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether it is intended when a Purchase Tax reduction is made that the benefit should be brought to the consumer? If that be so, is not the responsibility on the Government to see that the benefit to the consumer is received and that it is not merely left to what he calls the free play of free competition?

This is a complicated plan to administer since the tax is levied at the wholesale stage. In view of our experience last year, we are able to say with real justification that free play of free competition does result in reductions, last year's having been passed on to the consumer with the minimum of delay.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names of the 288 potential applicants for loans and grants who responded to the letter sent last February to 50,000 managing directors about trade facilities, and indicate what steps he is taking to make available to them loans and grants to set up factories; and where those factories will be located.

The 288 applications for loans or grants which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Board of Trade, referred to in his reply on 3rd March, are at present being prepared for submission to the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee. As all approaches to the Committee are confidential, I regret that I am unable to supply any details of the individual applications received.

Does not the Minister realise that this is a matter of grave public importance and that I want to know how many of these loans and grants related to North-East Scotland, where the percentage of unemployment is 5·4 per cent., which is higher than anywhere else in Britain?

That is another question. I was asked about the names of potential applicants from all over the country. It is important to maintain confidentiality as regards each individual applicant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications he has received during the last five years from potential applicants for loans and grants to set up factories in Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland; how many of these applications were acceded to; what were the amounts of the grants and loans, respectively, as a result; how many new factories have been built and how many existing factories have been extended; and how many of those applications were refused and are still pending.

Advances from the Development Fund for factory projects were available in the Buckie-Peterhead district from 1953 onwards, but assistance through the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee for that district and for Aberdeen was not introduced until the passage of the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act last summer.

Is it a fact that the Ministry in considering this matter gives preference to the congested districts of the Midlands and South-East England where the percentage of unemployment is only 1·7 per cent.? Will the hon. Gentleman give more attention to North-East Scotland where, as I said a moment ago, the percentage is 5·4 per cent.?

The Midlands of England are not designated as D.A.T.A.C. areas and in South-East England only one or two isolated coastal areas qualify for D.A.T.A.C. assistance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer his estimate of the effect of the present high Bank Rate upon industrial development, building activity and employment.

Although it is difficult to isolate the influence of Bank Rate from other forces, my right hon. Friend considers that judicious adjustment of Bank Rate from time to time contributes to the health and stability of our financial system, which is the necessary basis for economic activity and employment generally. In this, as in other fields, "high" and "low" are relative terms, and I would remind the right hon. Member that Bank Rate has been reduced five times in the last twelve months.

As all that does not mean very much, will the Minister tell me this? If it is true, as the Government tell us, that the £ is now strong and convertibility has made it even stronger, why do we need a continued high Bank Rate in present conditions?

I do not accept the suggestion that it is necessarily at a high rate just now. I am sorry that the Answer I gave did not convey much to the right hon. Member. I took a great deal of trouble to prepare it for him.

Is not the real truth that the introduction of convertibility has made the Government afraid to reduce the Bank Rate, although internal conditions require it?

No, I cannot accept the implications in that supplementary question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of increasing unemployment in recent months, if he will reconsider his decision not to lower the age for release of post-war credits by five years for both men and women.

My right hon. Friend has noted the right hon. Member's suggestion, but he cannot anticipate his Budget Statement.

Will the Financial Secretary also note the great merit of this suggestion in that it would preserve the principle of age for release of these credits and also produce a large release in the present year when the Government have created extreme depression in the country?

Without in any way accepting the last part of that supplementary question, I shall at any rate undertake to bring the observations of the right hon. Member to the notice of my right hon. Friend.

Are not the present figures of unemployment a mere bagatelle—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—when we think that during the tenure of the recent Socialist Government unemployment rose to between 2 million and 3 million?

asked the Secretary to the Treasury in what circumstances the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee had advanced £10,000 to assist in building a textile mill in Great Yarmouth; and what consideration was given in connection therewith to the empty mills and skilled craftsmen unemployed in the Nelson and Colne constituency and other parts of the North-East Lancashire Development Area.

The offer by the Treasury last November, on the recommendation of the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee, of a loan to facilitate the setting up of a silk weaving factory at Great Yarmouth was made under the Distribution of Industry (Industrial Finance) Act, 1958. Great Yarmouth was the location chosen by the applicant and was one of the places for which assistance could be made available under the Act, whereas at the time the offer was made the other places referred to in the question were not.

Is it the hon. Member's assertion to the House that the application was made before 1951? Is he not aware that North-East Lancashire has been a Development Area for seven or eight years, that there are hundreds of empty factories, some of them the best equipped in the country, and that there are many thousands of the highest skilled textile workers now unemployed all over this area? Is not it crazy planning, or the absence of planning, to spend a lot of public money in putting up a new textile mill when we have large numbers of efficient but empty mills already in the country?

This application was for a loan and D.A.T.A.C. loan facilities were not at that time available in Development Areas except where specifically notified in the D.A.T.A.C. list. As for the setting up of a silk mill, and a small one at that, in Great Yarmouth, there is surely something to be said for diversification of employment in an area which is already suffering from a high degree of unemployment.

Owing to the highly unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at a suitable opportunity.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give figures to compare the amounts of ionising radiation received from the atmosphere during each of the last ten years by London, and England and Wales, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.

Has the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been called to a statement at a recent meeting of Euratom that in the six central countries of Europe the amount of radiation from above had definitely increased? Ought not we to know whether the same is happening in our country? Is not it true that there is great diversity of opinion among the experts as to the amount of radiation which can fall with safety?

Yes, I think there is a variety of opinion among the experts, but I should draw the attention of the hon. Member to the fact that the relevant Atomic Energy Research Establishment reports, the numbers of which I can give him, have been put in the Library of the House and they make available the latest information from our own experts. I think it would be a good thing to study those in order to get some idea of the validity of the Answer I have given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will make a statement upon the situation in Nyasaland Protectorate, with particular reference to the number of African and European casualties so far suffered; and what members of the Nyasaland Legislative Council have been arrested.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made to the House on 10th March in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and ether hon. Members.

In view of the appalling African casualties which the Minister has not divulged today, is it not a shocking situation and does it not get worse and worse under ham-fisted handling, particularly in the Northern Province? Why are Dr. Hastings Banda and such members of the Legislative Council as Mr. Chipembere, who are so suspicious of Southern Rhodesia, being sent to detention in Southern Rhodesia and not to a British protectorate such as Northern Rhodesia next door?

The hon. Member was less than fair when he suggested that 11 was deliberately hiding figures. I was asked for a further progress report and this is clearly to follow the report I have already made when I gave the regrettable casualties up to date. What I have done is to give the subsequent casualties, which are one rioter killed and two wounded. The hon. Member has the other part of his supplementary question wrong, too, if I may say so. The only member of the Legislative Council who is in detention is Mr. Chipembere. Dr. Banda is not a member of the Legislative Council. I have already made at least one long statement to the House dealing with the reasons why they were detained in Southern Rhodesia rather than in Nyasaland.

I asked the Minister for

"a statement upon the situation in Nyasaland Protectorate with particular reference to the number of African and European casualties so far suffered."

I am ready, if the hon. Member wishes, to repeat the Answer which I gave on 10th March, to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice and others, but I thought the House would not expect me to repeat an Answer which I had already given. I am quite prepared to give the hon. Member all the facts, however distressing they are, but I understood that he wanted a progress report after my last Answer.

In view of the fact that the African Congress is now to be made an illegal organisation in Southern Rhodesia, how can Dr. Hastings Banda ever get out of detention?

As far as I know, he is not a member of the Southern Rhodesia African National Congress.

Can the Minister explain why some Europeans have expressed the view that security forces are not desired in their district because they feel safer with the Africans?

I should certainly have to see chapter and verse for that statement before I accepted it.

Does the Minister realise that his Answer means that 44 Africans have been killed, that no Federal troops have been killed and that no European has been killed? Is this the massacre for which he said a plot had been made? Does he recognise that all the killings have been of Africans and not by Africans? How soon will he withdraw Federal troops from Nyasaland?

As I said in my Answer a day or two ago, if Governments are slow in taking action to nip conspiracies in the bud they are blamed for that. If they act promptly and prevent murder, then I think that credit is due. Needless to say, we all deeply regret the deaths among the rioters, most of whom have been duped by their leaders.

While I welcome the announcement that Lord Perth is to visit Nyasaland immediately, may I ask whether the Colonial Secretary can say exactly what he is to do there, since I understand that he is not to have discussions on constitutional development? How long is he likely to remain there?

In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, I think that it would clearly be inopportune at this stage to have formal constitutional talks, but it would equally clearly be helpful if the noble Lord discussed with the parties concerned when in their view it would be appropriate to start such talks. I should think the length of his stay will be three or four days, but he must have a certain flexibility in that matter. Needless to say, we shall be very anxious to welcome my colleague back here and to hear his first-hand impressions at the earliest practicable date. Answering the third part of the supplementary question, I have nothing to add to the replies which I have already given to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what recent consultations have taken place between the territorial Governments of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland and the Federal Government concerning the exercise of their concurrent powers of deportation.

I know of no such consultations.

Is not that an astonishing reply? Is not it a fact that the territorial Governments have concurrent powers with the Federal Government over deportation? If no consultations take place when deportations occur of the kind which we have seen recently, does not it mean that the concurrent powers of the territorial Governments are meaningless? Does not it mean that control of immigration into all three territories is in fact under the Federal Government and under a Federal immigration board on which no African sits, nor is there a single representative of the two Protectorate Governments? Is not it time that the territories were given greater powers in order to be able to control this very important matter?

I understand that the Federal authorities were proceeding not under the Deportation Act but under the Immigration Act. Immigration is the exclusive responsibility of the Federal Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what inquiries he has made about the arrests in Southern Rhodesia of British-protected persons, from Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, not being also citizens of the Federation.

I have asked the Governors of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland for the numbers of British protected persons detained, irrespective of whether they are also Federal citizens and about the arrangements that are being made for their families. I have also asked my right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations to seek certain further information about the detainees.

Is not it a fact that if British-protected persons from Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland who happen to be temporarily resident in Southern Rhodesia are arrested and detained without consultation with their territorial Governments this is a violation of their British-protected-person status? Ought not the Colonial Secretary to have intervened before now, in view of the fact that these people are under his protection and ought not to be arrested without trial by another Government who have no responsibility for their protection?

No, Sir. The hon. Lady has that quite wrong. There is no particular right of a British subject or British-protected person to be immune from the law of the country where he happens to be living. These people have been arrested because they were considered a danger in Southern Rhodesia. I ask the hon. Lady to await the full information which I have undertaken to give the House.